A Beginner's Guide to 'RuPaul's Drag Race:' What's the Best Season to Watch?

For the previous few years, RuPaul’s Drag Race has not solely grown in the way in which the present is carried out, however by way of viewers measurement as properly. Each yr, the collection appears to be breaking new information, bringing increasingly more individuals into the Werk Room for the very first time. And with the brand new forged announcement and launch date out for All Stars four, meaning plenty of contemporary eyes will likely be flocking to VH1.

But because the present expands, a flock of new viewers arrive who may get misplaced on the earth of Drag Race, asking questions like “What’s tucking? What’s a Manila? What is the tea?” Becoming a Drag Race fan is a dedication; you must study the terminology, perceive the completely different problem classes and know what's occurred in previous seasons to totally perceive some jokes and references.

One of essentially the most generally requested questions from new followers of the present is “What season is the very best to look at?” After cautious consideration, Billboard Pride solutions that query by rating every of the 13 seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars under:

13. All Stars, Season 1

The incontrovertible fact that we acquired extra seasons of All Stars after absolutely the disaster that was All Stars season 1 is a miracle. The queens on the present have been nice, with favorites like Latrice Royale, Tammie Brown, Raven, Jujubee and Chad Michaels gracing the stage. Just about all the pieces else was a multitude — the foundations of the competitors have been complicated, the “groups” did no justice for anybody, and the one main standout second from the present was Tammie Brown’s well-known “teleport us to Mars” rant. If you're going to skip a season, you received't miss this one.

12. Season 7

There have been plenty of nice queens the world acquired to satisfy in season 7, like Katya, Trixie Mattel, Violet Chachki and others. But the chemistry of the present was merely not there. The season was overstuffed with performing challenges, there have been just a few memorable lip syncs, and a lot of the season was spent coping with seemingly inconsequential drama. In the phrases of Jasmine Masters, no tea, no shade, no pink lemonade.

11. Season 1

Every present has to begin someplace, and Drag Race's first season is precisely that — a place to begin. The present had a smaller finances, fewer revolutionary alternatives and a formulation to observe. Aside from the unusual pre-Instagram filter put over each shot of the present, season 1 isn’t that unhealthy, it’s simply a lot extra boring than the seasons that adopted.

10. All Stars, Season three

The third season of All Stars supplied up a couple of fan favorites like Shangela, Trixie Mattel, Aja and BenDeLaCreme to entice viewers, however the season’s progress grew to become unusual to look at. Many of the challenges fell flat in comparison with the high-fashion and hilarity of seasons previous, the lipstick-elimination methodology grew to become exhausting to look at, and a significant mid-season twist threw a wrench within the present’s narrative, making it tougher for followers to swallow the ultimate few episodes.

9. Season 9

With its transfer from Logo to VH1, Drag Race season 9 had plenty of expectations put upon it. In some areas it delivered — the style was wonderful, the challenges appeared enjoyable and the competitors was steep. But with an absence of great behind-the-scenes drama and a staggering document of boring lip syncs, the season fell in need of the excessive expectations set for it by followers and by the present itself. Still, although, the ultimate “Lip Sync for the Crown” twist made for endlessly watchable tv.

eight. Season 2

With a much bigger finances and extra queens than earlier than, season two is the place Drag Race started to develop into its personal. With the addition of the now-classic Snatch Game problem, some iconic shady moments and some of the very best opponents to seem on the present, season two arrange the promise of future seasons of the present, with out essentially fulfilling it.

7. Season eight

After the polished-but-boring really feel of season seve , followers have been on the lookout for extra drama and extra enjoyable within the subsequent season of Drag Race. Season eight delivered; with a bevy of extraordinarily charismatic and fascinating queens, what this season lacked in dazzle it made up for in humor, fascinating storylines, and plenty and many iconic moments.

6. Season 10

The present’s most up-to-date season additionally had its fair proportion of hype to dwell as much as, with the tenth season marking a decade of the present’s presence on tv. But not like season 9, season 10 delivered on its promise with one of the vital aggressive teams but, holding followers continually guessing about the place every of the contestants would place. That, accompanied by greater than the present’s fair proportion of drama and deep dialogue behind the scenes, made season 10 a winner, child.

5. Season three

If season two arrange future seasons for achievement, then season three was the primary time the present discovered that success. The challenges on this season have been technically tough and intensely enjoyable to look at, the contestants have been fierce and shady, and the addition of Michelle Visage as an everyday presence on the judges’ panel made for one of the vital entertaining seasons of Drag Race so far.

four. Season 6

Three phrases: Bianca Del Rio. The drag celebrity dominated each second of season six, inserting her good model of humor at any time when she may, making this one of many funniest and most fascinating-to-watch seasons of Drag Race but. Her presence, mixed with a forged of now-iconic stars, a number of storylines of drama and feuds, and a few beautiful style moments, cements season six’s place amongst the very best seasons of Drag Race.

three. All Stars, Season 2

It’s no marvel that All Stars 2 was an enormous success. The forged was stacked with main fan favorites like Alaska, Katya, Detox and Adore Delano, and delivered on making these queens work tougher than ever for his or her title. It incorporates a number of the finest lip syncs and the very best runway moments of the present so far, and it is going to be remembered for it.

2. Season 5

Even when accounting for All Stars seasons, Drag Race season 5 has hands-down the very best forged of queens out of any season. From the always-hilarious Alyssa Edwards to the gifted unhealthy lady Roxxxy Andrews, the queens of season 5 made each single episode fascinating to look at. Bitter rivalries, extraordinarily well-known moments and beautiful twists are merely the icing on prime of this perfectly-cast season.

1. Season four

If you’re new to Drag Race, season 4 is the place to begin. This season is consultant of all the pieces Drag Race is, has been and continues to be. Not solely did season 4 launch the present into mainstream recognition, nevertheless it confirmed followers that with pitch-perfect challenges, a forged of sturdy personalities, beautiful style moments and extra, pure tv gold could be made. There are too many wonderful moments from this season to rely on one listing, so it’s simply higher if you happen to go watch and luxuriate in it for your self.